Divisional print control

ABSTRACT

The technique of the present invention enhances the workability of bonding and improves the finish in poster printing. The procedure first sets multiple areas adjacent to one another in an image expressed by master image data, where each of the multiple areas corresponds to each unit page to be printed. The procedure then enlarges each of the adjacent areas by preset dimensions (corresponding to an enlarged area in marginless printing) and sequentially extracts image data included in each enlarged area. The procedure subsequently magnifies the extracted image data by a predetermined magnification to generate each piece of page image data. The area actually printed is a little greater than the size of each sheet of printing paper. This arrangement thus enables an image part, for example, each part of a letter ‘A’, to be printed to the top, bottom, left, and right sides of each sheet of printing paper. The image part printed in each sheet of printing paper is continuous with the image part printed in an adjoining sheet of printing paper.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/133,208, filed on Apr. 26, 2002, the disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a divisional print control techniquethat causes a printing image of interest to be divisionally printed inmultiple sheets of printing paper.

2. Description of the Related Art

The ‘poster printing’ technique has been proposed to magnify a one-pageimage and divisionally print the magnified image in multiple sheets ofprinting paper having a specific size. A large print like a poster isobtained by joining the respective sheets of printing paper with imageparts divisionally printed thereon.

In the prior art technique, there are margins on the circumference ofeach sheet of printing paper used for divisional printing. The useraccordingly cuts off the margins with a pair of scissors or a cutterknife, before bonding the sheets of printing paper to one another.Namely the bonding work takes some time. It is not easy to accuratelycut off the margins. There may thus be a gap at the joint ordiscontinuity of adjoining image parts. This results in poor finish ofthe large print obtained by bonding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is thus to enhance workability ofbonding and improve finish in poster printing.

At least part of the above and the other related objects is attained bya first print controller that magnifies an image expressed by masterimage data by a predetermined magnification and causes the magnifiedimage to be divisionally printed in plural sheets of printing paper. Thefirst print controller includes: an area setting module that setsmultiple areas adjacent to one another in the master image data, whereeach of the multiple areas corresponds to each unit page to be printed;an enlargement-extraction module that enlarges each of the areas, whichare set by the area setting module, by preset dimensions andsequentially extracts image data included in each enlarged area; amagnification module that magnifies each of the image data, which isextracted by the enlargement-extraction module, by the predeterminedmagnification; a command output module that outputs a command, whichinstructs printing page image data of a greater size than the size ofthe printing paper actually used for printing, to a printing device; andan output control module that outputs each of the magnified image datacorresponding to the page image data of the greater size to the printingdevice.

The present invention is also directed to a second print controller thatmagnifies an image expressed by master image data by a predeterminedmagnification and causes the magnified image to be divisionally printedin plural sheets of printing paper. The second print controllerincludes: a magnification module that magnifies the image expressed bythe master image data by the predetermined magnification; an areasetting module that sets multiple areas adjacent to one another in themaster image data magnified by the magnification module, where each ofthe multiple areas has identical dimensions with those of each sheet ofprinting paper; an enlargement-extraction module that enlarges each ofthe areas, which are set by the area setting module, by presetdimensions and sequentially extracts image data included in eachenlarged area; a command output module that outputs a command, whichinstructs printing page image data of a greater size than the size ofthe printing paper actually used for printing, to a printing device; andan output control module that outputs each of the extracted image datacorresponding to the page image data of the greater size to the printingdevice.

The present invention is further directed to a third print controllerthat causes a printing image to be divisionally printed in multiplesheets of printing paper. The third print controller includes: an areasetting module that sets multiple areas adjacent to one another in printimage data representing the printing image, where each of the multipleareas has identical dimensions with those of each sheet of printingpaper; an enlargement-extraction module that enlarges each of the areas,which are set by the area setting module, by preset dimensions andsequentially extracts image data included in each enlarged area; acommand output module that outputs a command, which instructs printingpage image data of a greater size than the size of the printing paperactually used for printing, to a printing device; and an output controlmodule that outputs each of the extracted image data corresponding tothe page image data of the greater size to the printing device.

In any of the first through the third print controllers, the page imagedata has the greater size than the size of printing paper.

Even when there is a slight deviation in feed of printing paper, thisarrangement ensures printing to the respective sides of the printingpaper. The respective areas set by the area setting module are adjacentto one another. There is accordingly little possibility that an imagepart expressed by one piece of page image data is discontinuous with animage part expressed by an adjoining piece of page image data. Any ofthe first through the third print controllers enables the respectivesheets of printing paper with the image parts printed thereon to bereadily and precisely joined together without cutting the margins. Thisarrangement thus ensures the excellent workability of bonding and thefavorable finish of the resulting large print obtained by bonding.

The first and the second print controllers enable even a master image ofa relatively small size to be magnified for divisional printing, whereasthe third print controller is suitable for divisional printing of animage having a relatively large size.

In accordance with one preferable application, any of the first throughthe third print controller further includes: a marginless printingspecification module that accepts marginless printing specification,which represents printing without any margins on respective sides ofprinting paper; and a module that, only when the marginless printingspecification module accepts the marginless printing specification,activates the enlargement-extraction module to enlarge each of the areaswhile activating the marginless print command output module to outputthe command, which instructs printing in the printing area of thegreater size.

This arrangement enables the user to select a desired print mode betweenmarginless printing, which represents printing without any margins onrespective sides of printing paper, and standard printing with margins,thus ensuring the excellent operatability.

In one preferable embodiment, the print controller of the aboveapplication that is capable of selecting execution or non-execution ofmarginless printing has a first input setting module that sets a firstdata input box on a window for data input displayed on a display device,where various pieces of information with regard to divisional printingto the multiple sheets of printing paper are input in the first datainput box. The marginless printing specification module includes asecond input setting module that sets a second data input box, where themarginless printing specification is accepted, on the window with thefirst data input box.

This arrangement enables the operator to specify the various pieces ofinformation with regard to divisional printing and give an instructionof divisional printing in an identical window for data input, thusensuring the excellent operatability.

Another application of the present invention is a print control methodcorresponding to each of the print controllers discussed above. Thepresent invention is accordingly directed to a first print controlmethod that magnifies an image expressed by master image data by apredetermined magnification and causes the magnified image to bedivisionally printed in plural sheets of printing paper. The printcontrol method includes the steps of: (a) setting multiple areasadjacent to one another in the master image data, where each of themultiple areas corresponds to each unit page to be printed; (b)enlarging each of the areas, which are set in the step (a), by presetdimensions and sequentially extracting image data included in eachenlarged area; (c) magnifying each of the image data, which is extractedin the step (b), by the predetermined magnification; (d) outputting acommand, which instructs printing page image data of a greater size thanthe size of the printing paper actually used for printing, to a printingdevice; and (e) outputting each of the magnified image datacorresponding to the page image data of the greater size to the printingdevice.

The present invention is also directed to a second print control methodthat magnifies an image expressed by master image data by apredetermined magnification and causes the magnified image to bedivisionally printed in plural sheets of printing paper. The secondprint control method includes the steps of: (a) magnifying the imageexpressed by the master image data by the predetermined magnification;(b) setting multiple areas adjacent to one another in the master imagedata magnified in the step (a), where each of the multiple areas hasidentical dimensions with those of each sheet of printing paper; (c)enlarging each of the areas, which are set in the step (b), by presetdimensions and sequentially extracting image data included in eachenlarged area; (d) outputting a command, which instructs printing pageimage data of a greater size than the size of the printing paperactually used for printing, to a printing device; and (e) outputtingeach of the extracted image data corresponding to the page image data ofthe greater size to the printing device.

The present invention is further directed to a third print controlmethod that causes a printing image to be divisionally printed inmultiple sheets of printing paper. The third print control methodincludes the steps of: (a) setting multiple areas adjacent to oneanother in print image data representing the printing image, where eachof the multiple areas has identical dimensions with those of each sheetof printing paper; (b) enlarging each of the areas, which are set in thestep (a), by preset dimensions and sequentially extracting image dataincluded in each enlarged area; (c) outputting a command, whichinstructs printing page image data of a greater size than the size ofthe printing paper actually used for printing, to a printing device; and(d) outputting each of the extracted image data corresponding to thepage image data of the greater size to the printing device.

Still another application of the present invention is a recording mediumin which each of the print control methods discussed above is recordedin a computer readable manner. The present invention is accordinglydirected to a first recording medium in which a computer program isrecorded in a computer readable manner. The computer program functionsto magnify an image expressed by master image data by a predeterminedmagnification and cause the magnified image to be divisionally printedin plural sheets of printing paper. The computer program causes acomputer to attain the functions of: (a) setting multiple areas adjacentto one another in the master image data, where each of the multipleareas corresponds to each unit page to be printed; (b) enlarging each ofthe areas, which are set by the function (a), by preset dimensions andsequentially extracting image data included in each enlarged area; (c)magnifying each of the image data, which is extracted by the function(b), by the predetermined magnification; (d) outputting a command, whichinstructs printing image data of a greater size than the size of theprinting paper actually used for printing, to a printing device; and (e)outputting each of the magnified image data corresponding to the pageimage data of the greater size to the printing device.

The present invention is also directed to a second recording medium inwhich a computer program is recorded in a computer readable manner. Thecomputer program functions to magnify an image expressed by master imagedata by a predetermined magnification and cause the magnified image tobe divisionally printed in plural sheets of printing paper. The computerprogram causes a computer to attain the functions of: (a) magnifying theimage expressed by the master image data by the predeterminedmagnification; (b) setting multiple areas adjacent to one another in themaster image data magnified by the function (a), where each of themultiple areas has identical dimensions with those of each sheet ofprinting paper; (c) enlarging each of the areas, which are set by thefunction (b), by preset dimensions and sequentially extracting imagedata included in each enlarged area; (d) outputting a command, whichinstructs printing page image data of a greater size than the size ofthe printing paper actually used for printing, to a printing device; and(e) outputting each of the extracted image data corresponding to thepage image data of the greater size to the printing device.

The present invention is further directed to a third recording medium inwhich a computer program is recorded in a computer readable manner. Thecomputer program functions to cause a printing image to be divisionallyprinted in multiple sheets of printing paper. The computer programcauses a computer to attain the functions of: (a) setting multiple areasadjacent to one another in print image data representing the printingimage, where each of the multiple areas has identical dimensions withthose of each sheet of printing paper; (b) enlarging each of the areas,which are set by the function (a), by preset dimensions and sequentiallyextracting image data included in each enlarged area; (c) outputting acommand, which instructs printing page image data of a greater size thanthe size of the printing paper actually used for printing, to a printingdevice; and (d) outputting each of the extracted image datacorresponding to the page image data of the greater size to the printingdevice. 1

Like the first through the third print controllers discussed above, thecorresponding first through third print control methods and the firstthrough the third recording media ensure the excellent workability ofbonding and the favorable finish of the resulting large print obtainedby bonding.

The technique of the present invention may be attained by otherapplications. The first application is a computer program recorded inany of the first through the third recording media described above. Thesecond application is a program supply apparatus that supplies thecomputer program via a communication path. In the second application,the computer program is stored, for example, in a server on a computernetwork and is downloaded to the computer via the communication path tobe executed and actualize any of the print controllers and print controlmethods discussed above.

These and other objects, features, aspects, and advantages of thepresent invention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiments with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the hardwareconstruction of a computer system in a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the structure of a printer included inthe computer system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a platen of the printer;

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged printing area for an A4-size printing sheet;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a series of processing executedin a computer main body to process master image data and attain posterprinting;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a poster printing control routine;

FIG. 7 shows the initial state of an application window WD;

FIG. 8 shows the application window WD in the print specificationprocess;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a first half of the layout & print processcarried out at step S400 in the flowchart of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a second half of the layout & printprocess carried out at step S400 in the flowchart of FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 shows a process of magnifying an image expressed by master imagedata;

FIG. 12 shows another process of magnifying an image expressed by masterimage data;

FIGS. 13A-13C shows various examples of areas S1 through Sn set in themaster image data;

FIG. 14 shows another example of areas S set in the master image data;

FIG. 15 shows the details of the enlargement & extraction process andthe magnification process;

FIG. 16 shows an exemplified resulting image obtained by posterprinting;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a first half of a layout & print processcarried out in a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a second half of the layout- & printprocess carried out in the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 shows an example of magnifying a master image; and

FIG. 20 shows a process of area setting, enlargement, and extraction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the hardwareconstruction of a computer system in a first embodiment of the presentinvention. The computer system includes a personal computer (hereinaftersimply referred to as the computer) as its center and a CRT display 12and a printer 14 as peripheral equipment. The computer has a computermain body 16, a keyboard 18, and a mouse 20. The computer main body 16is provided with a CD driver 24 for reading a CD-ROM 22.

The printer 14 is an ink jet printer that ejects ink droplets to createdots on surface of a sheet of printing paper. In the printer 14, acarriage is moved back and forth in a main scanning direction, while thesheet of printing paper is fed in a sub-scanning direction. An image isaccordingly recorded on the sheet of printing paper. The printer 14 isnot restricted to the ink jet printer but may be a printer of anothermechanism, for example, a laser printer or a dot impact printer.

The computer main body 16 includes a CPU 30 as a central processingunit, a ROM 31, a RAM 32, a display video memory 33, a mouse interface34, a keyboard interface 35, a CDC 36, an HDC 37, a CRTC 38, a printerinterface 40, and an I/O port 41, which are mutually connected via abus. The ROM 31 is a read only memory that stores a variety of programstherein. The RAM 32 is a readable writable memory that stores adiversity of data therein. The display video memory 33 stores thereinimage data representing an image to be displayed on the CRT display 12.The mouse interface 34 is in charge of data transmission to and from themouse 20. The keyboard interface 35 is in charge of key input from thekeyboard 18. The CDC 36 is a CD controller that controls a CD driver(CDD) 24. The HDC 37 is a hard disk controller that controls a hard diskdriver (HDD) 42. Image data of interest as an object to be printed(hereinafter referred to as master image data) is stored in advance inthe HDD 42.

The CRTC 38 is a CRT controller that controls display of images on theCRT display 12, based on display image data stored in the display videomemory 33. The printer interface 40 controls data output to the printer14. The I/O port 41 is provided with a serial output port and isconnected to a modem 44 to be further linked with a public telephonenetwork 46 via the modem 44. The computer main body 16 is connected toan external network via the modem 44 to gain access to a specific server47.

In this computer system, an operating system is stored in the HDD 42 andis loaded to a predetermined area in the RAM 32 according to a loaderwritten in a boot block of the HDD 42 in response to power supply to thecomputer main body 16. A printer driver provided for each type of theprinter 14 is stored in advance in a CD-ROM 22 and is installed from theCD drive 24 into the computer main body 16 by activating a predeterminedinstallation program. The installed printer driver is stored in the HDD42, and is incorporated in the operating system to be loaded to thepredetermined area in the RAM 32 in response to power supply to thecomputer main body 16.

Another computer program prepared in this computer system is anapplication program for poster printing preset image data. Theapplication program is stored in advance in another CD-ROM 22 and isinstalled from the CD driver 24 into the computer main body 16 byactivating a predetermined installation program. The installedapplication program is stored in the HDD 42, and is loaded to aspecified area in the RAM 32 in response to a given activation command.

The CPU 30 executes the application program for poster printing, so asto attain the respective constituents of the present invention. Theapplication program may be stored in another mobile recording medium(carriable recording medium), such as a floppy disk, a magneto-opticdisc, or an IC card, in place of the CD-ROM 22. The application programmay alternatively be program data that is downloaded via the externalnetwork from the specific server 47 connecting with the external networkand is transferred to the RAM 32 or the HDD 42. When the externalnetwork is the Internet, the application program may be downloaded froma specific homepage. The application program may otherwise be suppliedin the form of attachments to E mails.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the structure of the printer 14. Theprinter 14 has a printing mechanism 50 and a print controller 60 thatcontrols the printing mechanism 50. The print controller 60 isconstructed as a microcomputer including a CPU that executes diverseprograms, a ROM, and a RAM. The printing mechanism 50 has a print head51, a carriage 52 that moves back and forth to shift the print head 51mounted thereof, a platen 53 that is located at a position facing theprint head 51, a sheet cassette 54 that keeps plural sheets of printingpaper therein, a pair of sheet feed rollers 55 a and 55 b that feed upeach sheet of printing paper in the sheet cassette 54 to the platen 53,a pair of sheet discharge rollers 56 a and 56 b that discharges eachprinted sheet, a paper tray 57 that receives discharge of printedsheets, and a sensor 58 that measures actuating quantities of the sheetfeed rollers 55 a and 55 b.

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating the platen 53 of the printer 14. Asillustrated in FIG. 3, the platen 53 is provided with a pair of inkreceiving vertical openings 53 c extending in a direction parallel to asheet feeding direction F, as well as multiple ink receiving lateralopenings 53 a and 53 b extending in a scanning direction or a directionperpendicular to the sheet feeding direction F. The pair of inkreceiving vertical openings 53 c are laid out to make left and rightsides of an A4-size printing sheet (this printer 14 is exclusively usedfor the size A4) pass immediately above the respective openings 53 c.The multiple ink receiving lateral openings 53 a and 53 b are arrangedon the sheet feeding side and the sheet discharging side. Each of theseopenings is filled with an ink adsorbent.

The structure of the platen 53 with the openings and the ink adsorbentenables the printer 14 to carry out marginless printing with no marginsleft on the four sides of the printing sheet. In the case of marginlessprinting, in order to ensure printing on the respective ends of theprinting sheet, it is required to generate a printing image for an areaof a slightly greater size than the size of the printing sheet. In theprocess of utilizing the application program (more specifically, theapplication program for poster printing described above) to generateimage data, the user selects a ‘With No Margins on Four Sides’ mode asthe print form at the phase of setting the size of the printing sheet.Selection of the ‘With No Margins on Four Sides’ mode sets dimensionsequivalent to those of an enlarged printing area for the A4-sizeprinting sheet discussed below. A printing image is then generated inthe newly set dimensions.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged printing area for the A4-size printing sheet.As illustrated in FIG. 4, the enlarged printing area is specified byextending the printing sheet as the reference by predeterminedenlargement quantities in the respective directions. In the illustratedexample, the enlargement quantity on the front side in the sheet feedingdirection F is 3 mm, the enlargement quantity on the rear side is 5 mm,and the enlargement quantity on the left and right sides is 2.5 mm. Theenlargement quantities in the respective directions are determinedaccording to the skew of the printing sheet and the tolerance of thesheet feed quantity.

In the case of marginless printing with this printer 14, when the fourends of the printing sheet are located respectively above the inkreceiving openings 53 a, 53 b, and 53 c, ink is ejected from the printhead 51 to make ink droplets hit on the respective ends of the printingsheet. The ink receiving openings 53 a, 53 b, and 53 c function toreceive ink droplets that fail in hitting the ends of the printingsheet. This arrangement ensures successful printing to the respectiveends of the printing sheet without spotting the platen 53.

In the computer system having the hardware construction discussed above,poster printing is carried out according to the application program. Theprocess of poster printing is discussed below. FIG. 5 is a block diagramillustrating a series of processing executed in the computer main body16 to process master image data and attain poster printing. Asillustrated in FIG. 5, an application program 61 for poster printingactivated in the computer main body 16 generates multiple pieces of pageimage data corresponding to respective unit pages to be printed frommaster image data, and sequentially outputs the generated multiplepieces of page image data as a print command to a printer driver 63 alsoactivated in the computer main body 16. The printer driver 63 convertsthe page image data into printable signals and transmits the convertedprintable signals to the printer 14.

In the application program 61, an area setting module 61 a sets multipleadjoining areas in the master image data, which correspond to therespective pages to be printed. An enlargement-extraction module 61 benlarges each of the multiple areas by preset dimensions andsequentially extracts image data included in each enlarged area. Amagnification module 61 c magnifies each of the image data by apredetermined magnification. The predetermined magnification hererepresents a ratio of magnifying the image expressed by the extractedimage data to a printing image output from the printer 14. A commandoutput module 61 d outputs a command (marginless print command), whichinstructs printing page image data of a greater size than the size ofthe printing paper actually used for printing, to the printer driver 63,and an output module 61 e outputs each of the magnified image datacorresponding to the page image data of the greater size to the printingdevice 63.

The application program 61 of the above configuration controls theprocess of poster printing, which magnifies an image expressed by themaster image data by the predetermined magnification and causes themagnified image to be divisionally printed in plural sheets of printingpaper. The application program 61 causes the master image data, thelayout of poster printing, and other diverse images to be displayed onthe CRT display 12 via a video driver 62, while carrying out the aboveseries of processing for poster printing.

More specifically, the CPU 30 of the computer main body 16 executes theapplication program 61 to implement the poster printing. The followingdescribes the details of a poster printing control process according tothe application program 61. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a routine ofthis poster printing control process. This routine is iterativelycarried out at preset time intervals after an instruction is given toexecute the application program 61 for poster printing.

Referring to the flowchart of FIG. 6, when the program enters theroutine, the CPU 30 first causes an application window WD to bedisplayed on the CRT display 12 (step S100). FIG. 7 shows the initialstate of the application window WD. As illustrated in FIG. 7, theapplication window WD has three buttons BT1, BT2, and BT3 ‘PhotographSelection’, ‘Print Specification’, and ‘Layout & Print’. The operatorsequentially clicks these buttons BT1 to BT3 with the mouse 20, so as toadvance the work flow of poster printing on the screen of the CRTdisplay 12. Referring back to FIG. 6, after execution of step S100, theCPU 30 receives operation commands in response to clicks of the buttonsBT1, BT2, and BT3 with the mouse 20 to sequentially carry out aphotograph selection process, a print specification process, and alayout & print process corresponding to the respective operationcommands (steps S200, S300, and S400).

The photograph selection process carried out at step S200 selects imagedata of, for example, a photograph. In this embodiment, the CPU 30selects master image data of interest to be printed, out of the storagein the HDD 42. In accordance with a concrete procedure, the CPU 30receives a file name input through the operations of the keyboard 18 orthe mouse 20 and reads the master image data specified by the file namefrom the HDD 42 into the RAM 32. The CPU 30 subsequently causes theread-out master image data to be displayed in a word area WK of theapplication window WD.

The print specification process carried out at step S300 specifiesdiverse pieces of information relating to poster printing. The diversepieces of information include, for example, the size of the printingimage output from the printer (hereinafter referred to as the outputsize) and the size of the printing sheet. FIG. 8 shows the applicationwindow WD in the print specification process. The CPU 30 first causes aninput window for print specification to be displayed in the work area WKof the application window WD as shown in FIG. 8.

The input window for print specification has a ‘Style Settings’ area AR1and a ‘Printer Settings’ area AR2. The output size is set in the ‘StyleSettings’ area AR1. In response to a click of a radio button RB1, theoutput size of the length and the width is specified as the absolutesize. In response to a click of a radio button RB2, the output size ofthe length and the width is specified indirectly as the numbers ofpages. The ‘Printer Settings’ area AR2 includes three data input boxesF1, F2, and F3 ‘Printer’, ‘Paper Size’, and ‘Paper Type’. The model nameof the printer used for printing is input in the ‘Printer’ data inputbox F1. The size of printing paper is input in the ‘Paper Size’ datainput box F2. The type of printing paper is input in the ‘Paper Type’data input box F3. There is another data input box F4, in which thespecific print mode ‘With No Margins on Four Sides’ is set, on the rightside of the ‘Paper Type’ data input box F3.

At step S300 in the flowchart of FIG. 6, after the display of the inputwindow for print specification, the CPU 30 waits for data input on theinput window through the operations of the keyboard 18 or the mouse 20.

The following describes the details of the layout & print processcarried out at step S400 after completion of step S300 in the flowchartof FIG. 6. FIGS. 9 and 10 are flowcharts showing the details of thelayout & print process. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9, when theprogram enters the routine, the CPU 30 first outputs print modeinformation, which specifies either marginless printing or standardprinting with margins, to the printer 14 via the printer driver 63 atstep S405. The print mode information is set in response to selection ofthe print mode ‘With No Margins on Four Sides’ in the data input box F4on the input window for print specification shown in FIG. 8. The CPU 30subsequently calculates vertical and lateral dimensions SAx and SAy ofthe image expressed by the master image data stored in the RAM 32, fromthe numbers of pixels and the resolutions of the master image data withregard to the length and the width at step S410. The CPU 30 then readsthe output size SBx and SBy input in the ‘Style Settings’ area AR1(vertical and lateral output dimensions) at step S420. In the case wherethe user clicks the radio button RB2 to specify the output sizeindirectly by the numbers of pages, the vertical and lateral outputdimensions SBx and SBy are obtained by multiplying the numbers of pagesby the size of printing paper input in the ‘Paper Size’ data input boxF2.

The CPU 30 calculates the ratios of the output dimensions SBx and SBy tothe dimensions SAx and SAy of the image expressed by the master imagedata with regard to the length and the width. Namely the CPU 30calculates SBx/SAy (=vertical magnification) and SBy/SAy (=lateralmagnification) at step S430. The CPU 30 compares the verticalmagnification with the lateral magnification and registers the smallervalue as a magnification K of the image at step S440.

The magnification K is registered as the ratio of enlargement in theprocess of converting the master image data into the size of theprinting image as the output. In the case where the ratio of thevertical dimension SAx to the lateral dimension SAy of the master imagedata is equal to the ratio of the vertical dimension SBx to the lateraldimension SBy of the printing image, the magnification K means that theimage expressed by the master image data is enlarged to the size of theprinting image with regard to both the length and the width as shown inFIG. 11. For convenience of illustration, the printing image is drawn tobe slightly greater than the enlarged image, although the size of theprinting image is actually coincident with the size of the enlargedimage. Such exaggeration is also applied to FIG. 12. In the case wherethe ratio of the vertical dimension SAx to the lateral dimension SAy ofthe master image data is different from the ratio of the verticaldimension SBx to the lateral dimension SBy of the printing image, on theother hand, the magnification K means that the length and the width ofthe image expressed by the master image data are enlarged by the samemagnification until either the enlarged length or the enlarged width iscoincident with the length or the width of the printing image as shownin FIG. 12. Namely one of the length and the width of the enlarged imagehas the dimension identical with the dimension of the printing image,whereas the other of the length and the width of the enlarged image hasa margin relative to the dimension of the printing image.

After execution of step S440, the CPU 30 multiplies the size of printingpaper (vertical and lateral dimensions) PPx and PPy input in the ‘PaperSize’ data input box F2 by 1/K, so as to calculate vertical and lateraldimensions OPPx and OPPy of the area on the master image datacorresponding to the printing paper at step S450. The CPU 30 thencalculates the numbers of sheets of printing paper arranged in lengthand width for the printing image, from the output size (vertical andlateral output dimensions) SBx and SBy input in the ‘Style Setting’ areaAR1 and the size of printing paper (vertical and lateral dimensions) PPxand PPy input in the ‘Paper Size’ data input box F2 at step S460. Thecalculated numbers of sheets are, for example, ‘a’ pages in length and‘b’ pages in width (where ‘a’ and ‘b’ are positive numbers). When theradio button RB2 is clicked to specify the output size by the numbers ofpages, the input data is utilized without any further calculation.

At subsequent step S470, the CPU 30 sets multiple areas S1 through Sn(where n is a positive number), which correspond to respective unitpages to be printed, in the master image data stored in the RAM 32 atstep S200, based on the vertical and lateral dimensions OPPx and OPPY ofthe area calculated at step S450 and the numbers of sheets of printingpaper in length and width calculated at step S460.

FIG. 13A-13C shows various examples of areas S1 through Sn set in themaster image data. In the example of FIG. 13A, the image expressed bythe master image data is just covered over with multiple areas S1, S2,S3, and S4. For convenience of illustration, the areas are drawn to beslightly greater than the master image, although the size of the masterimage is actually coincident with the combination of the multiple areas.Such exaggeration is also applied to FIGS. 13B and 13C. In the exampleof FIG. 13B, the partial areas S3 and S4 are extended from the imageexpressed by the master image data. In the example of FIG. 13C, all theareas S1, S2, S3, and S4 are extended from the image expressed by themaster image data. These areas S1, S2, S3, and S4 are adjacent to oneanother, and are neither overlapped nor apart from one another. Theselection between the layout of FIG. 13A and the layout of either FIG.13B or FIG. 13C depends upon the vertical and lateral dimensions OPPxand OPPy of the area and the numbers of sheets of printing paper ‘a’ and‘b’ arranged in length and width. The selection between the layout ofFIG. 13B and the layout of FIG. 13C is based on a preset rule that theblank part is to be biased on one side or to be dispersed equally.

FIG. 14 shows another example of areas S set in the master image data.When the master image data of the size A4 is subjected to posterprinting of the size A2 (this is 2.times.2-fold of the size A4), theprocedure equally divides the image expressed by the master image datainto the total of four, that is, two in the vertical direction and twoin the horizontal direction, and sets the areas S1, S2, S3, and S4 asillustrated in FIG. 14. Referring to the flowchart of FIG. 10, afterexecution of step S470, the CPU 30 initializes a variable ‘i’ to 1 atstep S480 and determines whether the selected print mode is marginlessprinting or standard printing at step S490. The determination is basedon the settings of the print mode information in the data input box F4on the input window for print specification shown in FIG. 8. When it isdetermined that the selected print mode is marginless printing, the CPU30 enlarges the area Si at step S491, which is specified by the variable‘i’ among the areas S1 through Sn set at step S470.

The enlargement process enlarges the area Si in the four directions,upward, downward, leftward, and rightward. The quantities of enlargementare specified corresponding to the enlarged printing area for the sizeA4 mentioned previously (the quantity of enlargement on the front side:3 mm, the quantity of enlargement on the rear side: 5 mm, the quantityof enlargement on the left and right sides: 2.5 mm) when the masterimage data is magnified by the magnification K. More concretely,division of the respective quantities of enlargement by themagnification K gives the factors of enlargement, that is, 3/K mmupward, 5/K mm downward, and 2.5/K mm leftward and rightward. Theenlargement process enlarges the area S1 of FIG. 14 in the fourdirections, upward, downward, leftward, and rightward as shown in FIG.15( a). In the illustration, all the four directions, the top, bottom,left, and right are enlarged by a substantially equal quantity ofenlargement. This is only for convenience of illustration, and theactual quantities of enlargement follow the above rule. Suchexaggeration is adopted in other equivalent drawings.

Referring back to the flowchart of FIG. 10, when it is determined atstep S490 that the selected print mode is standard printing, theenlargement process of step S491 is omitted. The CPU 30 then extractsimage data included in the area Si at step S492. In the case ofmarginless printing, image data is extracted from the area Si enlargedat step S491. For example, the image data is extracted as shown in FIG.15( b). When there is no master image data in a certain direction of theenlarged area (upward and leftward in the illustrated example), an imageidentical with the line of the side in the certain direction (the topside and the left side in the illustrated example) is written in theenlarged area for extraction. The blank part as shown in FIG. 13B orFIG. 13C is extracted as space data.

The CPU 30 subsequently magnifies the image data extracted at step S492by a magnification K at step S493. For example, in the case of posterprinting the master image data of the size A4 to the size A2, the imagedata is magnified by the magnification 2 both in the vertical directionand in the lateral direction as shown in FIG. 15( c). The magnificationmaps the color density of one pixel in the extracted image data to a2.times.2 area including two pixels in length and two pixels in width.This procedure applies the same color density for mapping of each pixel.Another applicable procedure may take into account the color densitiesof peripheral pixels and applies an intermediate color density formapping.

Referring back again to the flowchart of FIG. 10, after execution ofstep S493, the program proceeds to step S494. The CPU 30 outputs theimage data magnified to the K times at step S493 as page image data tothe printer 14 via the printer driver 63 at step S494. The CPU 30 thenincrements the variable ‘i’ by one at step S495 and compares thevariable ‘i’ with the value ‘n’ at step S496. When the variable ‘i’ isnot greater than the value ‘n’, the program returns to step S490 anditeratively carries out the processing of steps S490 to S496. Theiterative execution results in sequentially outputting the page imagedata with regard to the area S1 to the area Sn to the printer 14 via theprinter driver 63. When it is determined at step S496 that the variable‘i’ is greater than the value ‘n’, the program goes to RETURN and exitsfrom this processing routine.

The printer driver 63 receives the print mode information output at stepS405 and determines whether or not the selected print mode is marginlessprinting based on the input print mode information. In the case ofmarginless printing, the printer driver 63 controls the printer 14 toprint the respective page image data output at step S494 in a greatersize of printing area that is enlarged from every side of the printingpaper.

FIG. 16 shows a printing image actually printed in the example of FIGS.14 and 15. This gives a printing result in the case of poster printingthe master image data of the size A4 including the letter ‘A’ to thesize A2. As illustrated, the actual printing area is a little greaterthan the size of the printing paper, so that an image part of the letter‘A’ is printed to the top, bottom, left, and right sides of each sheetof printing paper. The image part printed on one sheet of printing paperis continuous with the image part printed on an adjoining sheet ofprinting paper. The computer system of the first embodiment enables therespective sheets of printing paper with the image parts printed thereonto be readily and precisely joined together without cutting the margins.This arrangement thus ensures the excellent workability of bonding andthe favorable finish of the resulting large print obtained by bonding.

The structure of this embodiment enables the user to select the desiredprint mode between marginless printing and standard printing in the datainput box F4 on the input window for print specification, thus ensuringthe excellent workability. In this embodiment, both the ‘Style Settings’area AR1 for poster printing and the data input box F4 for selectivelyspecifying the print mode ‘With No Margins on Four Sides’ are providedon the identical input window for print specification. This ensures theexcellent operatability.

In the above embodiment, the area setting module 61 a corresponds tostep S470 shown in FIG. 9, the enlargement-extraction module 61 bcorresponds to step S491 and S492 shown in FIG. 10, and themagnification module 61 c corresponds to step S493 shown in FIG. 10.Further the command output module 61 d the corresponds to step S405shown in FIG. 9, and the output module 61 e corresponds to step S494shown in FIG. 10.

A second embodiment of the present invention is discussed below. Theprocedure of the first embodiment sets the areas in the master imagedata prior to magnification of the master image data to the printingimage. The procedure of the second embodiment, on the other hand,magnifies the image expressed by the master image data to a preset sizeof the printing image and then sets areas corresponding to page imagesin the magnified image. The details of the second embodiment arediscussed below.

The second embodiment has the same hardware construction as that of thefirst embodiment and the similar software configuration to that of thefirst embodiment except the layout & print process. FIGS. 17 and 18 areflowcharts showing the details of the layout & print process executed inthe second embodiment. The processing of steps S405 to S440, S460, S480,S490, S495, and S496 in the flowcharts of FIGS. 17 and 18 are identicalwith the processing of the corresponding steps of the first embodiment.When the program enters the processing routine shown in FIG. 17, the CPU30 carries out the processing of steps S405 to S440 and then magnifiesthe master image expressed by the master image data by the magnificationK at step S510.

FIG. 19 shows an example of magnifying a master image. Like the examplediscussed previously, in the case of poster printing master image dataof the size A4 to the size A2, the image expressed by the master imagedata is magnified twice both in the vertical direction and in thelateral direction.

Referring back to the flowchart of FIG. 17, after execution of stepS510, the CPU 30 carries out the processing of step S460 discussed inthe first embodiment. At subsequent step S520, the CPU 30 sets multipleareas SS1 through SSn (where each area has identical dimensions withthose of the printing paper and n is a positive number) in the masterimage data magnified at step S510, based on the size of the printingpaper (the vertical and lateral dimensions) PPx and PPy input in the‘Paper Size’ data input box F2 and the numbers of sheets ‘a’ and ‘b’arranged in length and width of the printing paper calculated at stepS460.

The examples shown in FIGS. 13A-13C are also applicable to the processof setting the multiple areas in this second embodiment, provided thatthe master image data is replaced by the master image data magnified atstep S510 and the areas S1 through S4 are replaced by the areas SS1through SS4. In the example of FIG. 13A, the image expressed by themagnified master image data is just covered over with multiple areasSS1, SS2, SS3, and SS4. In the example of FIG. 13B, the partial areasSS3 and SS4 are extended from the image expressed by the magnifiedmaster image data. In the example of FIG. 13C, all the areas SS1, SS2,SS3, and SS4 are extended from the image expressed by the magnifiedmaster image data. These areas SS1, SS2, SS3, and SS4 are adjacent toone another, and are neither overlapped nor apart from one another. Theselection between the layout of FIG. 13A and the layout of either FIG.13B or FIG. 13C depends upon the vertical and lateral dimensions OPPxand OPPy of the area and the numbers of sheets of printing paper ‘a’ and‘b’ arranged in length and width. The selection between the layout ofFIG. 13B and the layout of FIG. 13C is based on a preset rule that theblank part is to be biased on one side or to be dispersed equally.

In the case of poster printing the master image data of the size A4 tothe size A2, the procedure sets the areas SS1 through SS4 on the imageexpressed by the magnified master image data as shown in FIG. 20( a).After execution of step S520 in the flowchart of FIG. 17, the programproceeds to step S480 in the flowchart of FIG. 18. The CPU 30 carriesout the processing of steps S480 and S490, which is identical with theprocessing of the first embodiment. When it is determined at step S490that the selected print mode is marginless printing, the CPU 30 enlargesthe area SSi at step S530, which is specified by the variable ‘i’ amongthe areas SS1 through SSn set at step S520.

The enlargement process enlarges the area SSi in the four directions,upward, downward, leftward, and rightward. The quantities of enlargementare specified corresponding to the enlarged printing area for the sizeA4 mentioned previously (the quantity of enlargement on the front side:3 mm, the quantity of enlargement on the rear side: 5 mm, the quantityof enlargement on the left and right sides: 2.5 mm). The enlargementprocess enlarges the area SS1 of FIG. 20( a) in the four directions,upward, downward, leftward, and rightward as shown in FIG. 20( b). Inthe illustration, all the four directions, the top, bottom, left, andright are enlarged by a substantially equal quantity of enlargement.This is only for convenience of illustration, and the actual quantitiesof enlargement follow the above rule. Such exaggeration is adopted inFIG. 20( c).

Referring back to the flowchart of FIG. 18, when it is determined atstep S490 that the selected print mode is standard printing, theenlargement process of step S530 is omitted. The CPU 30 then extractsimage data included in the area SSi at step S540. In the case ofmarginless printing, image data is extracted from the area SSi enlargedat step S530. For example, the image data is extracted as shown in FIG.20( c). When there is no master image data in a certain direction of theenlarged area (upward and leftward in the illustrated example), an imageidentical with the line of the side in the certain direction (the topside and the left side in the illustrated example) is written in theenlarged area for extraction. The blank part as shown in FIG. 13B orFIG. 13C is extracted as space data.

Referring back again to the flowchart of FIG. 18, the CPU 30 outputs theimage data extracted at step S540 as page image data to the printer 14via the printer driver 63 at step S550. The CPU 30 then increments thevariable ‘i’ by one at step S495 and compares the variable ‘i’ with thevalue ‘n’ at step S496. When the variable ‘i’ is not greater than thevalue ‘n’, the program returns to step S490 and iteratively carries outthe processing of steps S490 to S496. The iterative execution results insequentially outputting the page image data with regard to the area SS1to the area SSn to the printer 14 via the printer driver 63. When it isdetermined at step S496 that the variable ‘i’ is greater than the value‘n’, the program goes to RETURN and exits from this processing routine.

The procedure of the second embodiment gives a printing resultequivalent to that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 16. Like thefirst embodiment, the computer system of the second embodiment enablesthe respective sheets of printing paper with the image parts printedthereon to be readily and precisely joined together without cutting themargins. This arrangement thus ensures the excellent workability ofbonding and the favorable finish of the resulting large print obtainedby bonding.

The procedure of the first embodiment sets the areas prior tomagnification of the master image data and thus enables the process ofenlargement and extraction to be carried out by the unit area set in themaster image data. The procedure of the second embodiment, on the otherhand, magnifies the whole image expressed by the master image data to apreset size of the printing image and then sets the areas in themagnified image. The second embodiment accordingly requires a memory forstoring the whole printing image. The configuration of the firstembodiment thus saves the memory capacity for storing image data,compared with the configuration of the second embodiment.

A third embodiment of the present invention is described briefly. Theprocedure of the second embodiment magnifies the image expressed by themaster image data to a preset size of the printing image and divides themagnified image. The procedure of the third embodiment, on the otherhand, registers an image of a relatively large size as the printingimage in a storage device like the HDD 42 and divides the registeredprinting image. The procedure of the third embodiment omits theprocessing of steps S410, S430, S440, and S510 in the layout & printroutine of the second embodiment shown in the flowchart of FIG. 17 andspecifies the print image data registered in the HDD 42 to represent theprinting image as the image data of interest in the processing flow ofand after step S520 in the flowcharts of FIGS. 17 and 18.

Like the first and the second embodiments discussed above the procedureof the third embodiment enables the respective sheets of printing paperwith the image parts printed thereon to be readily and precisely joinedtogether without cutting the margins. This arrangement thus ensures theexcellent workability of bonding and the favorable finish of theresulting large print obtained by bonding.

Some examples of possible modification are briefly described below.

(1) In the structure of the first embodiment, the three buttons BT1,BT2, and BT3 ‘Photograph Selection’, ‘Print Specification’, and ‘Layout& Print’ are provided on the application window WD to simultaneouslycarry out the layout process and the printing process. In one possiblemodification, four buttons ‘Photograph Selection’, ‘PrintSpecification’, ‘Layout’, and ‘Print’ are provided to individually carryout the layout process and the printing process. Such modificationenables a resulting image expected to be printed on the respectivesheets of printing paper in poster printing to be displayed on thescreen as a preview image. The operator checks the preview image andshifts the processing flow to the printing process based on the check.

(2) In the above embodiments, the printer 14 is exclusively used forprinting the A4-size printing paper. The printer 14 may be applicablefor other sizes of printing paper, for example, the size B5, the sizeB4, and the size A3.

(3) In the above embodiment, the ‘marginless printing’ representsprinting without any margins on the four sides of printing paper. In onepossible modification, in the marginless print mode, margins may be lefton the top and bottom sides whereas no margins are set on the left andright sides of printing paper.

(4) In the above embodiments, the printer 14 locally connected to thecomputer main body 16 is applied for the printing device of the presentinvention. The printing device may alternatively be a printer connectedto a network like Ethernet. The technique of the present invention isnot restricted to the printers but is also applicable to other printingdevices like photocopiers and facsimiles.

The above embodiments and their modifications are to be considered inall aspects as illustrative and not restrictive. There may be manymodifications, changes, and alterations without departing from the scopeor spirit of the main characteristics of the present invention. Allchanges within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims aretherefore intended to be embraced therein.

The scope and spirit of the present invention are indicated by theappended claims, rather than by the foregoing description.

1. A print controller that magnifies an image expressed by master imagedata by a predetermined magnification and causes the magnified image tobe divisionally printed in plural sheets of printing paper, said printcontroller comprising: a command output module that outputs a command,which instructs printing in a printing area of a greater size than asize of the printing paper actually used for printing, to a printingdevice, the greater size being greater than the size of the printingpaper by a preset quantity of enlargement; a magnification module thatmagnifies the image expressed by the master image data by thepredetermined magnification; an area setting module that sets multipleareas adjacent to one another in the master image data magnified by saidmagnification module, where each of the multiple areas has identicaldimensions with those of each sheet of printing paper; anenlargement-extraction module that enlarges each of the areas, which areset by said area setting module, by dimensions that are equal to thepreset quantity of enlargement and sequentially extracts image dataincluded in each enlarged area; and an output control module thatoutputs each of the extracted image data corresponding to the printingarea of the greater size to the printing device.
 2. A print controllerin accordance with claim 1, said print controller further comprising: amarginless printing specification module that accepts marginlessprinting specification, which represents printing without any margins onrespective sides of printing paper; and a module that, only when saidmarginless printing specification module accepts the marginless printingspecification, activates said enlargement-extraction module to enlargeeach of the areas while activating said marginless print command outputmodule to output the command, which instructs printing in the printingarea of the greater size.
 3. A print controller in accordance with claim2, said print controller further comprising: a first input settingmodule that sets a first data input box on a window for data inputdisplayed on a display device, where various pieces of information withregard to divisional printing to the multiple sheets of printing paperare input in the first data input box, said marginless printingspecification module comprising: a second input setting module that setsa second data input box, where the marginless printing specification isaccepted, on the window with the first data input box.
 4. A printcontroller that causes a printing image to be divisionally printed inmultiple sheets of printing paper, said print controller comprising: acommand output module that outputs a command, which instructs printingin a printing area of a greater size than a size of the printing paperactually used for printing, to a printing device, the greater size beinggreater than the size of the printing paper by a preset quantity ofenlargement; an area setting module that sets multiple areas adjacent toone another in print image data representing the printing image, whereeach of the multiple areas has identical dimensions with those of eachsheet of printing paper; an enlargement-extraction module that enlargeseach of the areas, which are set by said area setting module, bydimensions that are equal to the preset quantity of enlargement andsequentially extracts image data included in each enlarged area; and anoutput control module that outputs each of the extracted image datacorresponding to the printing area of the greater size to the printingdevice.
 5. A print controller in accordance with claim 4, said printcontroller further comprising: a marginless printing specificationmodule that accepts marginless printing specification, which representsprinting without any margins on respective sides of printing paper; anda module that, only when said marginless printing specification moduleaccepts the marginless printing specification, activates saidenlargement-extraction module to enlarge each of the areas whileactivating said output control module to output the command, whichinstructs printing in the printing area of the greater size.
 6. A printcontroller in accordance with claim 5, said print controller furthercomprising: a first input setting module that sets a first data inputbox on a window for data input displayed on a display device, wherevarious pieces of information with regard to divisional printing to themultiple sheets of printing paper are input in the first data input box,said marginless printing specification module comprising: a second inputsetting module that sets a second data input box, where the marginlessprinting specification is accepted, on the window with the first datainput box.
 7. A print control method that magnifies an image expressedby master image data by a predetermined magnification and causes themagnified image to be divisionally printed in plural sheets of printingpaper, said print control method comprising the steps of: (a) outputtinga command, which instructs printing in a printing area of a greater sizethan a size of the printing paper actually used for printing, to aprinting device, the greater size being greater than the size of theprinting paper by a preset quantity of enlargement; (b) magnifying theimage expressed by the master image data by the predeterminedmagnification; (c) setting multiple areas adjacent to one another in themaster image data magnified in said step (b), where each of the multipleareas has identical dimensions with those of each sheet of printingpaper; (d) enlarging each of the areas, which are set in said step (c),by dimensions that are equal to the preset quantity of enlargement andsequentially extracting image data included in each enlarged area; and(e) outputting each of the extracted image data corresponding to theprinting area of the greater size to the printing device.
 8. A printcontrol method that causes a printing image to be divisionally printedin multiple sheets of printing paper, said print control methodcomprising the steps of: (a) outputting a command, which instructsprinting in a printing area of a greater size than a size of theprinting paper actually used for printing, to a printing device, thegreater size being greater than the size of the printing paper by apreset quantity of enlargement; (b) setting multiple areas adjacent toone another in print image data representing the printing image, whereeach of the multiple areas has identical dimensions with those of eachsheet of printing paper; (c) enlarging each of the areas, which are setin said step (b), by dimensions that are equal to the preset quantity ofenlargement and sequentially extracting image data included in eachenlarged area; and (d) outputting each of the extracted image datacorresponding to the printing area of the greater size to the printingdevice.
 9. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with a computerprogram, said computer program functioning to magnify an image expressedby master image data by a predetermined magnification and cause themagnified image to be divisionally printed in plural sheets of printingpaper, said computer program causing a computer to attain the functionsof: (a) outputting a command, which instructs printing in a printingarea of a greater size than a size of the printing paper actually usedfor printing, to a printing device, the greater size being greater thanthe size of the printing paper by a preset quantity of enlargement; (b)magnifying the image expressed by the master image data by thepredetermined magnification; (c) setting multiple areas adjacent to oneanother in the master image data magnified by said function (b), whereeach of the multiple areas has identical dimensions with those of eachsheet of printing paper; (d) enlarging each of the areas, which are setby said function (c), by dimensions that are equal to the presetquantity of enlargement and sequentially extracting image data includedin each enlarged area; and (e) outputting each of the extracted imagedata corresponding to the printing area of the greater size to theprinting device.
 10. A computer-readable storage medium in accordancewith claim 9, wherein said computer program further causes the computerto attain the functions of: (f) accepting marginless printingspecification, which represents printing without any margins onrespective sides of printing paper; and (g) only when the marginlessprinting specification is accepted by said function (f), activating saidfunction (d) to enlarge each of the areas while activating said function(a) to output the command, which instructs printing in the printing areaof the greater size.
 11. A computer-readable storage medium inaccordance with claim 10, wherein said computer program further causesthe computer to attain the function of: (h) setting a first data inputbox on a window for data input displayed on a display device, wherevarious pieces of information with regard to divisional printing to themultiple sheets of printing paper are input in the first data input box,said function (f) comprising the function of: (f-1) setting a seconddata input box, where the marginless printing specification is accepted,on the window with the first data input box.
 12. A computer-readablestorage medium encoded with a computer program, said computer programfunctioning to cause a printing image to be divisionally printed inmultiple sheets of printing paper, said computer program causing acomputer to attain the functions of: (a) outputting a command, whichinstructs printing in a printing area of a greater size than a size ofthe printing paper actually used for printing, to a printing device, thegreater size being greater than the size of the printing paper by apreset quantity of enlargement; (b) setting multiple areas adjacent toone another in print image data representing the printing image, whereeach of the multiple areas has identical dimensions with those of eachsheet of printing paper; (c) enlarging each of the areas, which are setby said function (b), by dimensions that are equal to the presetquantity of enlargement and sequentially extracting image data includedin each enlarged area; and (d) outputting each of the extracted imagedata corresponding to the printing area of the greater size to theprinting device.
 13. A computer-readable storage medium in accordancewith claim 12, wherein said computer program further causes the computerto attain the functions of: (e) accepting marginless printingspecification, which represents printing without any margins onrespective sides of printing paper; and (f) only when the marginlessprinting specification is accepted by said function (e), activating saidfunction (c) to enlarge each of the areas while activating said function(a) to output the command, which instructs printing in the printing areaof the greater size.
 14. A computer-readable storage medium inaccordance with claim 13, wherein said computer program further causesthe computer to attain the function of: (g) setting a first data inputbox on a window for data input displayed on a display device, wherevarious pieces of information with regard to divisional printing to themultiple sheets of printing paper are input in the first data input box,said function (e) comprising the function of: (e-1) setting a seconddata input box, where the marginless printing specification is accepted,on the window with the first data input box.